Adolph horowitz



:(No Model.)

A. HOROWITZ.

. 10B GRBBPBR; No. 259,311.. Patented June 13, 1882.

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH HOROWITZ, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T() MARCUS SIMONTON, OF SAME PLACE.

lCE-CREEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,311, dated .Tune 13, 1882.

Application filed October 25, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:l

Beit known that I, ADOLPH HoRowrTz, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Creepers, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention comprises an 4ice-creeper especially adapted for application to the straight front face of a boot or shoe heel, the peculiar construction of said Creeper being such that when it is turned to one side of the heel it is entirely out of the way, and consequently inoperative, while an opposite turn of the device causes it to project far 'enough to secure afast hold on the ice, and therebyprevent slipping. The preferred form of the device consists of a lever pivoted to said heel-face, and having at one end a cam or eccentric provided with teeth 0r other grasping appliances, the opposite end of said lever terminating with a hook or dog that coacts with said teeth in obtaining a secure foothold on the ice.

In the annexed drawings, Figurel is an en larged perspective view, showing the rear side of my preferred construction of Creeper. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the creeper applied to a boot-heel and in its closed or inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a similar view7 but showing the device in its open or effective position. Fig. 4 is a front eleva-tion of a modied form of the creeper. Fig. 5 represents the creeper provided with a detachable calk.

Referring to Fig.1, Arepresents a lever made of anyhard metal-such as steel orchilled ironand pierced near one end with an eye, B, to receive a suitable screw or bolt or other pivot, C, wherewith the Creeper is coupled to the straight front face of a boot or shoe heel, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. I prefer using an ordinary wood-screw for this pivot, not only on account of its cheapness and facility of application, but also because such a screw obviates the necessity of interposing a pivotplate between the creeper and heel. This lever is formed into a cam-head, D, eccentric with reference to the eye B, said cam being provided with teeth or otherwise roughened or serrated at E, to afford a rm foothold on the ice. The other end of the lever terminates with a hook or dog, F, grooved on its rear (No model.)

side at G, to engage with either one .of the pins H or I, projecting from the front face of the boot-heel, as seen in Figs. 2 and 8. This form of creeper is so pivoted to the boot or shoe or other heeled covering of the foot as to cause the groove G to snap over the pin I when the device is in the inoperative position seen in Fig. 2, thereby turning the roughened surface E of the cam D away from the bottom of the heel. Evidently the creeper willremain in this position until intentionally changed for the purpose of obtaining a secure foothold on the ice, which change is accomplished in an in stant by simply springing forward the lever A so as to disengage it from the pin I, and then turning said lever over to the position seen in Fig. 3. This act not only causes the groove Gr to snap over the other pin, H, but so disposes the teeth E and dog F as to make' them project a'suitable distance beyond the bottom ofthe heel, and thereby afford a double bearin g that eifectually prevents slipping. Vhen the creeper is in this position the weight of the person is borne by pivot C and the bearin g that lever A has against the under side of the shoe, the only object of pin H being to prevent the hooked end of said lever dropping down at every elevation of the foot. This form of the device is to be made rights and lefts,7 in order that the Creeper may be so applied to the boot as to locate hook or dog F at the outside of the foot, and thereby render said dog more effectual in action than it would be if disposed under the inner side of the foot.

The pins H and I, however, are not used if the front face of the heel is straight, as the leather then affords sufficient friction to retain the creeper securely either in its open or closed position; but where the face of the heel is concave, as with various forms of ladies shoes, gaiters, Sac., the pins should be employed, because such heels do not afford sufficient bearing of the leather against the Creeper to hold the latter in position.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the lever-head D is concentric with reference to pivot C, and the pins H I are omitted, the pressure of lever A against the comparatively elastic leather being all that is necessary to prevent said lever dropping down when the IOO foot is raised. This construction ot creeper operates in precisely the same manner as the device previously described-that is to say, when the lever is in a certain position the teeth are inoperative, but the instant said lever is swung overto an opposite position the teeth protrude in the most e'ective manner.

The creeper shown in Fig. 5 has a readilydetachable calli, J, fitted within the concentric head D', which calk may be secured with a screw, K. l

In case it should be desired to e'ect a still greater projection of the point of dog F, it can be readily accomplished by simply tacking a small piece of leather to the sole of the shoe at the place where the lever bears against the latter.

Finally, the cam D may be omitted, and this end ofthe lever may have a hook or projection, substantially the same as dog F.

I claim as my invention- 1. The within-described ice-creeper, consisting of the lever A, provided at one end with a head, D, pierced at B to admit a screw, C,

wherewith the device is pivoted directly to the front face of a boot or shoe heel, in order that said creeper may be brought into service when the lever is turned to one side of the heel, and may be rendered inoperative when said lever is turned to the opposite side of the heel, as set forth.

2. The within-described ice-Creeper, consisting of the lever A, provided at one end with a head, D, and at the other end with a dog,

F, said head being pierced at B to admit a screw, C, wherewith the device is pivoted directly to the front face of a boot or shoe heel, in order that said Creeper may bebrought into service when the lever is turned to one side of the heel, and may be rendered inoperative when said lever is turned to the opposite side of the heel, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- ADOLPH HOROWITZ.

Witnesses:

J AMES H. LAYMAN, M. SnvroNToiv. 

